Monthly Archives: March 2008

San Antonio is the place to be for the next few weeks. The Spurs are getting ready to enter the playoffs to defend their championship, Fiesta is just a couple weeks away, and the NCAA Final Four has its teams set to tip off later this week. For the first time ever, all four number one seeds have advanced through to the last week, and the schools that have made it read like a who’s who of college basketball tradition.

Kansas, North Carolina, UCLA, and Memphis have all been the most dominant teams throughout the preseason, conference seasons, and now through the tournament. In this tournament, each team has dominated some opponents, but each has also found itself in some difficult, hard-fought battles. Each team is stocked with future NBA talent, great coaching, and enough basketball tradition to make the last three games of the season play out like a hall of fame tournament.
UCLA has been a fixture in the Final Four since Ben Howland took over the program just a few years ago. They have made it to the last weekend of the tournament for the last three years, but haven’t been able to win the championship yet. The Bruins are led by freshman sensation, Kevin Love, who has elevated his game more and more as the season has gone on. Memphis has a super freshman of their own in Derrick Rose, who is thought to be a lottery pick in the NBA draft when he decides to announce. Memphis has only lost once all year. The Tigers’ coach, John Calipari has been to the Final Four before, as he led the University of Massachusetts there in 1996. North Carolina is the ACC champion and is led by All-American, Tyler Hansboro and speedy guard, Ty Lawson. Kansas has reached the final 8 often since coach Bill Self took over the program, but has fallen short of the Final Four in years past.

The games should be stellar games pitting UCLA’s stingy defense and efficient offense against Memphis athleticism and power, while Kansas goes up against former coach Roy Williams, who led the Jayhawks to the Final Four several times as Kansas’ coach, but never could win the championship there. What made the move all the worse for Kansas fans was that Williams led Carolina to the national championship in his second year at UNC. He was elected into the Basketball Hall of Fame last year.

San Antonio is ready for the action, and tickets still remain. In addition to the games themselves, there are tons of other events that will be going on throughout the city in conjunction with the culmination of the tournament. The best part? Some of the better events feature A-list stars and free entrance! Friday, the AT&T Block Party kicks off the weekend as Fall Out Boy, The Roots, and Ludo provide the musical entertainment for the evening, which ends with a huge fireworks display.

Saturday evening brings the Pontiac Garage at the Final Four, which features a full day of pep rallies, a military fly over, and the musical performances of Kid Rock, Puddle of Mud, and Meridianwest, who will all perform leading up until tip off. People without tickets can still enjoy the games which will be broadcast on giant screens. Sunday brings My Coke Fest, which will be hosted by Ryan Seacrest, and will feature Taylor Swift, 3 Doors Down, and All American Rejects.
Before the Championship Game on Monday night, Robert Earl Keen, Bob Schneider, and Mingo Flagship will all perform leading up to the tip-off which is set for 8:15.

San Antonio is known as one of the best cities in America for eating, and while Fiesta may a time for some to put on weight eating fajitas, oysters, barbeque, and more, there is also a wide variety of sports and physical activities to stay in shape and work off some of the extra calories that Fiesta can result in.

Saturday, April 19 is the day for most of the sporting events, which start off with the Fiesta Mission 10K and Kids’ Runs. The event starts at 7 AM as the San Antonio Roadrunners sponsor the 34th edition of the race which begins and ends in Mission County Park. The kids’ run gets started at 9:30, and all participants will receive a t-shirt, and prizes are given to winners from different age groups.

At 7:30, Fort Sam Houston is the site of the 10K Caminada de Fiesta Walk. Sponsored by the Texas Wanderers, the Army Medical Department Activities, and the Fort’s Outdoor Recreation Division, this walk is a great opportunity to walk through the grounds of Fort Sam Houston and see some of San Antonio’s history while getting some exercise.

Starting at 8 AM and going all day, the Women’s Soccer Association of San Antonio sponsors its 30th annual co-ed tournament for teams of all ages.

The San Antonio Botanical Society sponsors its yearly Walk Across Texas, which meanders through the 11 acres of the Botanical Gardens and through the Texas Native Trail. Along the hike, participants can visit Texas cabins, lakes, and see all the natural beauty that the Hill Country has to offer. This event goes from 9 AM until noon.

The girls of Zeta Phi Beta sorority host their 24th annual kids’ track meet. Youths from the ages of 6-14 are invited to participate, and winners receive ribbons, and all participants will get a certificate of participation.

Starting at 9 AM, San Antonio’s Lacrosse Association sponsors their 34th annual youth lacrosse tournament, as teams from across the state get together to play in the tournament.

The Alamo City Rugby Football Club gets their Rugby Battle underway at 9 AM, and features teams ranging from youths, to military, men’s and college teams. In addition, teams from across the world come to participate in this event.

The last day of Fiesta, April 26, just before the Fiesta Flambeau Night Parade, the San Antonio Roadrunners sponsor a 2.6-mile Fun Run that goes along the parade route, from Grayson and Broadway to Columbus Park. Crowds will line the route, so participants can expect to be cheered on along their journey. Registration can be done the day of the race at Sunken Gardens, or online at saroadrunner.com.

Fiesta is San Antonio’s moment to shine, and is certainly known for its pageantry and parades which demonstrate the city’s tradition and heritage in a series of bright and colorful parades and balls. While these are the biggest and most well-known events, and are broadcast on TV to hundreds of thousands—if not millions—each day is also full of smaller, more intimate gatherings and events that may not receive the publicity of the big ones, but are still lots of fun and shouldn’t be missed!

Let’s have a look at what is on the schedule for the first day of Fiesta!

April 18, 9 AM

The opening ceremony takes place at the Alamo Plaza, and the party officially gets underway as the Daughters of the Republic of Texas and the Alamo Heroes Committee declare, “Viva Fiesta!” The event ushers in the newest installment of Fiesta with dancing, singing, and all the pageantry that participants expect.

10 AM

Across the city, the morning sees a variety of choices depending on individual tastes.

· At the Witte Museum dancing aficionados will want to come and enjoy an elaborate display which traces the art of dance through the years of Fiesta. Throughout the years, the samba, polka, ballet, and more have been parts of the celebration, and this exhibit shows off some of the gowns and dresses that have made Fiesta such a colorful experience.
· The Alamo Plaza is also home to the Randolph Art League Exhibit which allows local artists to show and sell their pieces. The exhibit is ongoing throughout the day.
· At the River City Christian School, the special needs community celebrates with a family-friendly event featuring carnival rides, music, dancing and more.
· All day long, Market Square is open for music lovers to attend the free concerts taking place on five stages. People with all musical tastes should find something to fit the bill, as country-western, Latin Jazz, Tejano, and more will be represented. Food lovers will also enjoy finding something delicious at one of the many food booths.

11 AM

· UTSA has its own mini-Fiesta, featuring food, music, games, and other forms of entertainment, the proceeds of which go to supporting school groups and associations.
· Fiesta is quite different from Mardi Gras, but nevertheless gives a nod to the New Orleans celebration, as the San Antonio Zulu Association offers food, music, kid’s areas, and every kind of music imaginable. Brackenridge Park is home to lots of kids’ events, such as face painting, moonwalks, slides, and more.

5 PM
· St. Mary’s University Alumni Association gets the night off on the right foot with their 92nd Annual Fiesta Oyster Bake. They will cook over 100,000 oysters, and also will have fajitas, hamburgers, sausages, and much more. Music includes Latin, country, and rock and roll. This is a three day event, and Friday’s festivities conclude with a fireworks display. All proceeds go towards scholarships and student programs, so enjoy the bake and support education at the same time!
· Fans of Tejano music will not want to miss Friday night’s Tejano Explosion at Cattleman’s Square. This is a family event, featuring food and music as well as carnival rides for the kids.

6:30 PM

· Join the mariachis and the throngs of people gathered for the coronation of 2008’s El Rey Feo. The crowning takes place at the Main Plaza, and the reception afterwards will be held in the AT&T Community Center.

7:00 PM
· The WEBB party is San Antonio’s largest alternative event, which raises money for the San Antonio AIDS Foundation. Come down and enjoy the open bar, DJs, food, and silent auction and help support a good cause also.

8:00 PM
· Omega Psi Phi Fraternity hosts its annual Fiesta Jamboree. Attendees are encouraged to dress in their best party duds for the chance to win $100 for the best costume. The party lasts until midnight at the Doubletree Hotel.
· At La Villita, Incognito: Fiesta’s Masked Ball, invites guests to dress up in their best South American flavored outfit, and join in the Carnival-inspired party.

Earlier in the season, the Spurs rode an eleven game winning streak to first place in their division. Over the past few days, a four game losing streak has taken San Antonio out of first, and dragged them down to third place in what has been the most competitive division in the NBA. The streak was finally broken against the woeful Chicago Bulls, but with the playoffs just around the corner, the Spurs need to be ratcheting up their game, not letting it get loose.

Three of the four losses did come against teams who all have a legitimate shot at winning the title this year, but those were also games which could have sent a strong message to the rest of the league that San Antonio is ready to defend their title, and that teams should be on notice. Instead, the Spurs did send a message, but not the one that they probably wanted.

The game that started the slide was against division rival, New Orleans, who is currently in first place in the division. In this game, the Spurs simply had no answer for Chris Paul, who exploded for 26 points and 17 assists, to lead the Hornets to the comfortable 100-75 victory. David West also blew up San Antonio for 29 points and 10 rebounds. Tony Parker and Tim Duncan each had 24 points, but no one else helped out.

Next up was a visit to Detroit and an always tough game with the Pistons. Again, Parker and Duncan were the team leaders, scoring 26 and 20, respectively, but no one else was there to pick up the slack. Ginobili had a bad game, only managing 9 points. One bright spot for the Spurs was that they did manage to hold the Pistons to 11% shooting from beyond the arc. For Detroit, Antonio McDyess grabbed 17 rebounds to easily lead both teams in that category. The Pistons outrebounded San Antonio 51-39, and won the game 84-80.

Against the surprising 76ers, the Spurs ran into a team playing for a spot in the playoffs, and sporting a .500 record. Although Manu Ginobili regained his form, and scored 22 in the game, it wasn’t enough to counter Andre Miller’s season high 32 points and 7 assists. Duncan had an off night, only scoring 16 points and getting 6 rebounds. Tony Parker led the team with 27 points and 5 assists.

With three road losses, the Spurs finally were back home, but unfortunately they were playing host to the Boston Celtics. Early in the game, it looked like San Antonio was going to run Boston out of the building, building a 22 point lead at one point. Unfortunately for Spurs fans, the final score read Celtics 93, Spurs 91. Manu Ginobili did all he could, scoring 32 points, but Duncan again had an off-night, as he only scored 10 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. Tony Parker added 17, but no one else scored in double digits.

The Spurs had to go on the road to Chicago to do it, but they finally got back on track against the Bulls with a powerful 102-80 victory. Tim Duncan broke out of his funk, scoring 22 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, and Tony Parker came through with 23 points. At one point, San Antonio led by as many as 28, and had a 22-4 run. Chicago’s fans were booing throughout the game, which must have sounded like music to the ears of the Spurs.

With the conference race so close, losing a few games can have an enormous effect. Coach Popovich said before the Chicago game that San Antonio was 2 games out of first and 2 games out of 8th. The race is certainly a close one, and another streak like the last one could really damage San Antonio’s seeding in the playoffs.

April is almost upon us, and that means one thing for San Antonio-Fiesta! While other cites have huge celebrations for St. Patrick’s Day, or Mardi Gras, Fiesta is San Antonio’s own unique celebration, and the multiple parades that spice up the city with their floats, colors, costumes, music, and host of cast of characters that participate, make these one of the best-loved parts of the whole affair.

The 2008 version of Fiesta presents three parades, each produced and sponsored by a different group of patrons.

The first parade, the Texas Cavaliers River Parade, will be held Monday, April 21st from 7-9:30 PM, and features the theme of “Rio Holiday”. Tickets are available at the following locations:

The Texas Cavaliers were formed in 1926 and charged with choosing the King of Fiesta, and is one of the only parades in the United States in which floats actually live up to their names, as the parade takes place on and along the river. It is not unusual for up to a quarter of a million people to line the banks to see the festivities. Ticket prices range from $12-$24.

Another of Fiesta’s traditional parades is the Battle of Flowers Parade, which takes places this year on Friday, April 25th from 11:50 AM-12:45 PM. This year’s theme is “Broadway…All That Jazz”. Bleacher seating is the only kind that is available, and ticket prices range from $12-15. The Battle of Flowers parade is the only parade in the country that is planned and produced completely by women, and honors the heroes of the Alamo in a beautiful and pageant-filled way.

Finally, the Fiesta Flambeau Parade features Boy Scouts carrying the flames (flambeau is French for candlestick) that the parade is named after. In addition, colorful and lively floats, musical groups, and decorated horses and cars make their way along the 2.6 mile journey through downtown San Antonio after the sun goes down. Typically this parade is joined by half a million people, with perhaps another million watching on television. One of the most beautiful sights in all of Fiesta is seeing this parade, lit by torches, snaking its way through the city. Tickets for the Fiesta Flambeau Parade can be obtained the following ways:

This year’s theme is “Celebrations of Cultures” and ticket prices are $12 and $15. The Fiesta Flambeau Parade takes place on Saturday, April 26th, from 7:45-10:30 PM. The Flambeau parade has been called by some the largest lighted night parade in the United States, and was started in 1948.

This year’s Fiesta parades should be a fun-filled time for the whole family, and San Antonio is looking forward to celebrating once again its history with this unique event. Buy you tickets early and come out and support the community and the city!

San Antonio remains in first place in their division, and have won 8 of their last 10 games. Unfortunately, those two losses were back to back defeats coming in their last two games to potential playoff teams, Phoenix and Denver. The Spurs are just half a game behind the Lakers for having the best record in the West, but the race is as tight as it has ever been with 8 teams being within 5 games of the lead. Compare that to the East, where only the Celtics and Pistons are within 4 games of each other, and Orlando is in third place, but remain 10 games back.

The Spurs also have division foe, Houston, breathing down their necks. The Rockets have won an incredible 18 straight games, even after losing Yao Ming for the season. Houston and New Orleans are both just one game back of San Antonio.

The Spurs started out the month of March with back to back games against the New Jersey Nets—one game in Jersey, and then two nights later, a rematch in San Antonio. The Spurs entered the month on an eight-game winning streak, and after sweeping both games against the Nets, took the streak to double digits. In the first game, Tony Parker was brilliant, scoring 25 points, while dishing out seven assists and grabbing 8 rebounds. In the second game, it was Duncan who came up big, scoring 29 points and corralling 12 rebounds. The game was far from pretty, but the Spurs are well-known for winning those types of games. In fact, aside from Duncan, San Antonio was close to awful on the offensive end, shooting 33% from the field. Their defense was the difference in allowing them to get the 81-70 win, as they held the Nets to 4-17 shooting from behind the arc, and out-rebounded New Jersey, 52-42.

The Spurs would run their winning streak to 11 games against the Indiana Pacers two nights later. Ginobili scored 28 in the 108-97 win, and Tony Parker added 19. San Antonio’s perimeter defense was again strong, holding Indiana to just 3-19 from behind the arc. Although the game was close at the half, San Antonio came out with a 14-4 run to start the second half, and went up by as much as 23, before clearing the bench to close it out. It was a rough game, and Coach Popovich was ejected in the second period for arguing a call.

The next night took the Spurs to Denver, who although not playing phenomenal basketball lately, are always a tough out. Apparently, coming one night after the tough bout with the Nets, a game in the Mile High City was too much for San Antonio, who lost 109-96. Although Tim Duncan came through with 23 points and 9 rebounds, the Spurs didn’t have an answer for The Answer, Allen Iverson. Iverson scored 29 points and Carmelo Anthony had 25. For the Spurs, it was a rough night on both ends of the court, as they saw their 11 game winning streak come to an end. Although Ginobili had 24 points, Tony Parker had his worst game in weeks, only managing 4 points, and turning the ball over 5 times. Bruce Bowen was the only other Spur to score in double digits.

Two nights later, the Spurs traveled to Phoenix to take on the new look Suns, who were eager to test themselves, and their new, old center, Shaquille O’Neal against San Antonio. Fans of both teams know that when these two teams get together, things are likely to get rough, and in the past, the Spurs have managed to be a little rougher than the Suns. The game was close until the final minutes, but the defense of O’Neal and Stoudamire, combined with some sloppy play by Tim Duncan, allowed the Suns to get the 97-84 win, and give the Spurs a two game losing streak. Ginobili scored 22, but also missed some big shots in the last minutes to help give Phoenix the win. After having a terrible game against Denver, Tony Parker came back strong, scoring 21 and dishing out 5 assists. San Antonio also did not shoot well from the floor, only managing 34% shooting, while Phoenix shot 45%. San Antonio also was outrebounded 52-44.

With the season winding down, San Antonio and the Lakers remain in a fight for the best record in the West, although there is hardly any room for mistakes. Losing the last two games to potential playoff foes could be reason for concern, as the Western arms race that took place just before the trading deadline is now starting to take shape. The good news for Spurs fans is that the injury bug that seemed to bite every other week has apparently moved on, and San Antonio now boasts its full complement of healthy players. The race is on!

The San Antonio Bird & Nature Festival, also known as WildFest, has a mission. They want to educate visitors and residents of the San Antonio area to the natural beauty that it holds. They also want to showcase some of the historical environments in and around San Antonio.

The first Wildfest was a success and therefore there will be a second one held on May 1st through the 4th. There is plenty of beauty within the area this time of year. Areas such as Mitchell Lake, Medina River, Botanical Gardens, and the National Historical Park will all be showcased during the event. The WildFest staff pride themselves in being one of only a few cities in America to have an event such as this.

Not only will you be viewing the natural beauty of the area. There will also be workshops for the attendee’s. Several of the things being done during the festival are to involve the children in what nature has to offer them. You will be looking at the animals, including bats, butterflies, and birds, as well as the plants and even history.

The San Antonio Bird & Nature Festival, also known as WildFest, has a mission. They want to educate visitors and residents of the San Antonio area to the natural beauty that it holds. They also want to showcase some of the historical environments in and around San Antonio.

The first Wildfest was a success and therefore there will be a second one held on May 1st through the 4th. There is plenty of beauty within the area this time of year. Areas such as Mitchell Lake, Medina River, Botanical Gardens, and the National Historical Park will all be showcased during the event. The WildFest staff pride themselves in being one of only a few cities in America to have an event such as this.

Not only will you be viewing the natural beauty of the area. There will also be workshops for the attendee’s. Several of the things being done during the festival are to involve the children in what nature has to offer them. You will be looking at the animals, including bats, butterflies, and birds, as well as the plants and even history.

The field trips that are planned for the event will have the goal of education in social science, general science, and other teachers interested in the subjects. They are hoping to bring in quite a few of the local residents for the event this year as well as visitors that are not from San Antonio but interested in the beauty if offers.

Do not think that this is simply an event where you sit outside in a lawn chair and wait for the birds to fly by. You will be going out and actually finding them in their habitat more often than not. In fact, one of the major and fun events planned is to actually go to a cave to view bats. It simply can not be more fun than that for any child interested in nature.

The field trips that are planned for the event will have the goal of education in social science, general science, and other teachers interested in the subjects. They are hoping to bring in quite a few of the local residents for the event this year as well as visitors that are not from San Antonio but interested in the beauty if offers.

Do not think that this is simply an event where you sit outside in a lawn chair and wait for the birds to fly by. You will be going out and actually finding them in their habitat more often than not. In fact, one of the major and fun events planned is to actually go to a cave to view bats. It simply can not be more fun than that for any child interested in nature.

Bird and Nature Festival where you are encouraged to bring your whole family!

Times vary based on the difference events that will be held. Visit their website, http://safdf.org/, for more information.

Have you always wanted to learn how to folk dance? The San Antonio Folk Dance Festival has several workshops available at their event in March. Regardless of how much experience you have or your skill level, you will be able to learn something at this festival. You may consider yourself one of the best even, and if that is the case, then you can go to a Review workshop where several teachers will be reviewing your skills. You will perhaps find some of your weaknesses and learn what your strengths are. The teachers come from a wide variety of backgrounds. You will find teachers from Romania, to Czech, and of course your English Country Dancing instructors in attendance.

Do not worry if you are not a dancer. This festival does not leave you out. If you would just like to take a seat and enjoy some good live entertainment then that is available as well. You will find several very good folk dancers that will be performing throughout the event. Miroslav Bata Marcetic’s Serbian Dance Theater Troupe is a large group with seventy performers. They will be just one of the many talented dancers you will be able to watch there.

You do not have to be a professional or an absolute beginner either. There will be several chances for you to get out on the dance floor and enjoy folk dancing with others. In fact, the last day of the festival there will be plenty of food and individual entertainment in celebration of this form of dance. All ages are welcome to attend the San Antonio Folk Dance Festival!

Randy Watson a San Antonio Real Estate Agent with Mission Realty writes regularly about all things good in San Antonio including sports, arts, events and tourism.

Do you have a passion for Christian films? Perhaps the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival would be something of enjoyment for you. The goal of the festival is to showcase and encourage production of films that keep the highest biblical values. It is a platform for those Christian filmmakers who may not get the recognition otherwise. It is meant to offer a joyful experience to advance the work of Jesus Christ through the medium of film.

If you are a Christian filmmaker, then even better news for you. There is a $10,000.00 “Best of Film Festival” Jubilee Award given for the best Independent Christian Film Short. Gone are the days of old when you needed tens of thousands of dollars to create films. In fact, the equipment is cheap enough that a single individual is capable of funding a project. There are many factors taken into account for the awards including theological accuracy, production value, quality, and level of difficulty. A few of the other several awards being given is Best Commercial Advertisement, Best Documentary Short, and Best Feature Film.

Film Academy

Have you always wanted to know how to develop films? Are you an aspiring filmmaker? Or, do you simply have an interest in it? The Film Academy would be a good place to visit. It is a technical boot camp for those who want to learn about the production of films. It has a sixteen hour classroom sitting with industry professionals. It contains personal discussion with those that will be providing the lectures. And even more importantly in the film production world, it offers an opportunity to build personal relationships with individuals with similar interests. The film academy will take place on January 5th – 7th and the cost is $395.00 per person. You are encouraged to enroll early at the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival website.

Randy Watson a San Antonio Real Estate Agent with Mission Realty writes regularly about all things good in San Antonio including sports, arts, events and tourism.